Why Did the Atlanta Hawks Change Their Colors? A Local Fan’s Guide

If you live in Atlanta or you’re visiting State Farm Arena for a game, you’ve probably noticed that the Atlanta Hawks’ colors haven’t always looked the same. The red, black, and volt green you see now are different from the red, white, and gold from years ago, and very different from the old blue-and-green era.

Here’s a clear, Atlanta-focused breakdown of why the Hawks changed colors, what each look has meant for the team and the city, and what it means for you as a fan today.

The Short Answer: Why the Hawks Changed Colors

The Atlanta Hawks changed colors several times to:

• Refresh the brand and stay modern in a competitive sports market
• Reconnect with Atlanta’s identity, heritage, and fan base
• Stand out visually in the NBA and on national broadcasts
• Create a consistent look across jerseys, the court, team gear, and marketing
• Mark new eras in ownership, arena upgrades, and team direction

Color changes have become one of the Hawks’ main tools for signaling, “This is a new chapter in Atlanta basketball.”

A Quick Timeline of Hawks Colors in Atlanta

Below is a simplified look at the Hawks’ main color eras since coming to Atlanta in 1968.

Exact years and small tweaks varied, but these broad phases are what most Atlanta fans recognize.

How Atlanta Shaped the Hawks’ Color Changes

Reflecting the City’s Personality

Each big color update has lined up with how the team wanted to mirror Atlanta’s culture at the time:

• Early Atlanta years: More traditional, leaning on classic sports colors as the franchise got settled.
• ’80s/early ’90s: Flashy red and gold fit the Dominique era, highlight dunks, and a louder NBA style.
• ’90s–2000s: Navy and darker tones matched a league-wide trend toward “tougher” looks and a more defensive, grind-it-out feel.
• Recent rebrands: Bright red and volt green speak to a younger, faster, more creative Atlanta—music, streetwear, and nightlife included.

If you go to a game in downtown Atlanta now, the colors in the arena feel much closer to the energy of the city than the older navy-heavy schemes ever did.

The Move Back to Red: Honoring Hawks History

One big reason for changing colors was to reconnect with the franchise’s roots.

Even before coming to Atlanta, the Hawks’ identity was tied strongly to red. Many long-time fans in the metro area associate Hawks basketball with red and white, especially if they’ve followed the team since the Omni days.

By returning to red (and keeping it as the anchor color), the team:

• Respected long-time Atlanta fans who remembered the Dominique Wilkins years
• Created instant visual continuity between past legends and current players
• Made it easier to design throwback nights, classic jerseys, and retro-themed events at State Farm Arena

So while the accents and secondary colors have changed, the modern brand still keeps red at the core to bridge old-school and new-school Atlanta.

Why Add the Bright “Volt” Green?

When you see the current uniforms up close—whether at a game or in a shop at State Farm Arena or around downtown—you’ll notice that very bright, almost neon shade called volt green.

That color wasn’t a random choice. It helps the Hawks:

• Stand out on TV and social media: Volt green pops on broadcasts and in highlight clips.
• Connect with younger fans: The color lines up with modern sneaker, streetwear, and design trends you’ll see around Midtown, Little Five Points, and the BeltLine.
• Create a strong in-arena atmosphere: Under arena lighting, the mix of red, black, and volt feels energetic and modern.

For an Atlanta fan, the color shift signals a team leaning into “New Atlanta”—creative, bold, and not afraid to look different from older, more traditional NBA brands.

Marketing, Merchandise, and the Business Side in Atlanta

Attracting Attention in a Busy Sports Market

Atlanta is packed with major teams and events: the Falcons, Braves, Atlanta United, college sports, concerts, and more. Color changes help the Hawks:

• Create a fresh look that catches attention across the city
• Make it easier to promote new eras (new players, new leadership, arena renovations)
• Keep the team visually relevant in a city that changes fast

A new color scheme gives the organization a reason to upgrade signage, digital screens, and fan zones around State Farm Arena and the Centennial Olympic Park area.

Driving Merchandise and Fan Gear

New colors often mean:

• New jerseys, hats, hoodies, and T-shirts across stores in Atlanta malls and near the arena
• More variety in retro vs. modern gear, giving fans options that match their style
• Special editions that highlight certain colors (for example, city-themed jerseys or “Peachtree” inspired designs in years past)

If you live in Atlanta, you’ve probably seen these color waves hit local retailers, from shops near Five Points to kiosks around Downtown and Midtown.

Aligning With Arena Renovations and a “New Era”

Color changes have also lined up closely with major updates to the Hawks’ home arena and the overall game experience.

When the team revamped what is now State Farm Arena and invested in new fan-focused features, they also leaned into:

• A cohesive in-arena color palette (LED boards, seats, concourse graphics, and court design)
• A brand message of fast, fun, and inclusive basketball
• A fresh visual identity to match the upgraded fan experience, food, music, and attractions

For someone attending their first game in Atlanta, the consistent colors across the court, video boards, and fan gear create a sense that this is truly Atlanta’s NBA team, not just a generic franchise.

Fans’ Reactions in Metro Atlanta

Local reaction has typically fallen into a few groups:

• Traditionalists: Prefer the classic red and white, sometimes the red and gold, and like seeing throwback nights honoring the past.
• Younger fans: Often drawn to the volt green, bold patterns, and unique jerseys that stand out on social media.
• Casual attendees: May not track every design change, but notice that the new colors feel more modern and “Atlanta” than older looks.

The Hawks seem to use color changes to balance both sides—classic red for history, modern accents and fonts for the future—so a family going to a game from anywhere in the metro area can all find something they like.

How the Color Changes Affect Your Experience in Atlanta

At the Arena

If you’re catching a game at State Farm Arena:

• Expect red and black to dominate, with volt green as a strong accent.
• Team stores carry gear reflecting the current identity, plus a rotating mix of retro colors.
• Theme nights sometimes feature throwback uniforms that bring back older color schemes, giving a nod to long-time fans.

Planning a visit? It can help to:

• Wear red and black to blend in with the crowd
• Look for special nights where the team announces classic or alternate jerseys, which often drive fan participation and arena themes

Around the City

In Atlanta, you’ll see Hawks colors:

• On murals and street art near downtown and the BeltLine
• In local bar and restaurant decor, especially near the arena and in sports bars across the metro
• On signage, posters, and marketing for Hawks events, camps, and community programs

As the colors evolved, so did how the team appears in the visual landscape of Atlanta, making the Hawks more recognizable in neighborhoods well beyond downtown.

Will the Hawks Change Colors Again?

NBA teams sometimes tweak their look every few years, but full overhauls are less frequent. For the Hawks in Atlanta, any future color change will likely be driven by:

• A major branding strategy shift
• Another significant arena or organizational change
• A desire to simplify or refine the current palette while keeping red at the core

If you’re buying gear in Atlanta and you want it to feel timeless, red-based items with the core Hawk logo are the safest bet. These lean on the long-term identity that has carried through multiple eras.

Key Takeaways for Atlanta Fans

• The Hawks changed colors to modernize, stand out, and reflect Atlanta’s culture.
• Red has remained the heart of the brand; accent colors like navy, gold, and volt green have changed around it.
• Recent bright and bold colors are meant to match the vibe of “New Atlanta”—creative, fast, and energetic.
• For locals and visitors, the color evolution shows up in jerseys, arena design, city visuals, and fan gear all over Atlanta.

Understanding these changes helps you see each uniform and logo not just as a design, but as a snapshot of where Atlanta and the Hawks were at that moment in time.